BruinsUpdated: Feb. 07, 2026, 10:07 a.m.|Published: Feb. 07, 2026, 9:26 a.m.
Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP
Pavel Zacha will not play in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The IIHF announced Saturday the Boston Bruins center was replaced on Team Czechia with Filip Chlapik, who spent four seasons with the Ottawa Senators organization from 2017-21.
Zacha, who was set to represent Czechia alongside teammate David Pastrnak, suffered an upper-body injury Jan. 29 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He did not travel with the Bruins for their final two games in Florida.
Bruins coach Marco Sturm was hopeful the center would be able to play in the men’s tournament.
Zacha has been a key player for the Bruins this season with 15 goals and 22 assists in 54 games.
The extent of Zacha’s injury is unknown.
The Bruins don’t return to action until Feb. 26 when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Lauren Campbell joined MassLive in 2023 as a breaking and trending Boston sports reporter covering all things locally and nationally. Campbell also produces MassLive’s “Fenway Rundown” podcast. In her previous… more